Longest and shortest day in Melbourne
In Melbourne, Australia, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 14h 47m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 9h 33m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:22 | 19:32 | 12h 10m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 07:35 | 17:08 | 9h 33m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:10 | 18:16 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:54 | 20:41 | 14h 47m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:14 | 20:44 | 14h 30m |
| February | 06:48 | 20:18 | 13h 30m |
| March | 07:17 | 19:40 | 12h 22m |
| April | 06:46 | 17:54 | 11h 8m |
| May | 07:12 | 17:19 | 10h 7m |
| June | 07:33 | 17:07 | 9h 34m |
| July | 07:32 | 17:19 | 9h 47m |
| August | 07:05 | 17:44 | 10h 39m |
| September | 06:21 | 18:10 | 11h 49m |
| October | 06:35 | 19:37 | 13h 2m |
| November | 06:00 | 20:09 | 14h 9m |
| December | 05:52 | 20:38 | 14h 46m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Melbourne
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Melbourne leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Melbourne sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Melbourne
When is the longest day in Melbourne?
The longest day in Melbourne falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 47m of daylight, sunrise at 05:54 and sunset at 20:41.
When is the shortest day in Melbourne?
The shortest day in Melbourne falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 33m of daylight, sunrise at 07:35 and sunset at 17:08.
How much does day length change through the year in Melbourne?
Between the longest and shortest day, Melbourne gains and loses about 5h 14m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Melbourne's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.